News of the Day From Across the Nation

Chronicle News Services

Published
2:49 pm PST, Tuesday, November 7, 2017

1 Guns in schools: The Republican-controlled Michigan Senate on Tuesday began passing legislation to let people with extra training carry guns inside churches, schools and other places now off limits. The bills were approved by a committee on 3-2 party-line votes. The full chamber planned to vote Wednesday. Republican Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed legislation in 2012 that would have allowed concealed pistol license holders with additional training to carry in gun-free zones.

2 Menu label law: The Trump administration is moving ahead with a law from the Obama years that will require calorie counts to appear on foods served at restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores and pizza delivery chains nationwide. Despite years of opposition by some food sellers, the Food and Drug Administration is offering only minor accommodations to industry complaints about the difficulties of displaying the information. The FDA posted recommendations Tuesday to help businesses comply with the law. Trump appointees have delayed or upended numerous other regulations passed by the Obama administration. But the menu labeling rules, championed by former first lady Michelle Obama, appear on track to take effect next May after years of delays.

3 Residency ends: A temporary residency permit program has aided 5,000 citizens from Nicaragua who have lived in the United States for almost two decades. Now the Trump administration is planning to end it in January 2019. The acting homeland security secretary says the program is no longer necessary for Nicaraguans in the U.S. Elaine Duke says temporary residents living under that permit would have 12 months to allow for an orderly transition for their return to their Central American homeland.

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Hazing deaths: Florida State becomes at least the third university this year to suspend Greek life because of alcohol-related tragedies. In Tallahassee, University President John Thrasher announced the indefinite suspension this week of the school’s 55 fraternities and sororities following the death of a junior pledge. Thrasher also banned alcohol at all student organization events during the suspension. Penn State suspended fraternities and sororities from holding social activities during the spring semester after the February hazing death of 19-year-old Timothy Piazza. Louisiana State had a one-month suspension and continues to ban alcohol at Greek parties after the hazing death of 18-year-old Maxwell Gruver in September.

5 Slave burial sites: Archaeologists are surveying an abandoned Nashville baseball stadium for hints of unmarked graves of slaves and free black men who died building the nearby fort. Fort Negley is one of the most significant Civil War sites for African Americans. The booming city is considering plans to demolish Greer Stadium for housing, entertainment venues, and a park. Historical groups, the NAACP and others want the land preserved as park space.